How to Buy a Cheap Prom Dress

Don't let money (or lack of it) keep you from looking stunning on your prom day! Below are some tips for finding a cheap prom dress that is guaranteed to turn heads.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Plan ahead.
   
   How much time do you have to save for your dress? What is your budget? If you waited to the last minute, your options are narrower, but don't panic just yet! You need to consider these factors before making a plan, since it won't help to order a dress if you have only 2 weeks left.

2. Buy second hand.
   
   Consider looking on Ebay, Craigslist, newspaper classifieds, and second hand shops. If it comes from out of state, your friends are never going to know the dress is second hand. Of course, this only works if you have a bit of time, and you will need your parents to help out with a credit card (unless you have your own). Pssst...I bought my wedding dress for $60 off of Ebay. I guarantee you, it looked stunning, and nobody knew. You may even land a designer dress this way.
   
   Asking a family member or friend (like an older cousin, or friend of your sister) if you can borrow their old dress is another great idea, especially if you are a similar size. As long as it's only been a few years, the dress should be fine.

3. If you still can't find what you like, buy online from a discount shop.
   
   If you are able to spend at least $50 on your dress, there are a few sites online that offer stunning dresses, very cheaply. Dresses custom ordered from China are particularly inexpensive. Another great shop is: http://www.nexteve.com/catalog/newstyles (the also have plus size and petite size dresses).
   
   Again, this only works if you have a bit of time, and you will need your parents to help out with a credit card.

4. If you still haven't found something, rent a dress.
   
   You can rent a dress for the fraction of the price of buying one. A good place to look is a wedding dress shop. Bridesmaids dresses are really the same as prom dresses, depending on the style you had in mind.
   
   Sometimes, bridal shops will sell previous try-on model dresses very cheaply, especially if they no longer sell that model.

5. As a last resort, make your own.
   
   I know, it's a movie cliché, like Pretty in Pink. I'm not suggesting you sew it yourself without help, unless you know how to sew pretty well. However, if you have a Grandma or older relative or family friend who is handy with a needle, you might find she is thrilled to help out (especially if you make it a project you do together).

[sonni57]

on 5/29/2009 It's always good to save money on a prom dress so you can brag about it.